Vehicle bumper



Aug. 29, 1939. g, D, WALT R 2,170,981

' VEHICLE BUMPER Filed June 7, 1938 I N VEN TOR 44am MM Patented Aug. 29, 1939 p UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in vehicle bumpers and more particularly to automobile parking bumpers.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an automobile bumper adapted to be extended rearwardly from an automobile to serve as a support for luggage or the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide an extensible automobile bumper adapted for the purpose of temporarily elongating the vehicle, when parked, to prevent the too close parking of another vehicle.

still another object of my invention is to provide a means for readily controlling the parking space occupied by a vehicle to insure the convenient removal of the vehicle when other vehicles are parked close thereto.

Broadly, my invention comprises an automobile bumper mounted in the frame of an automobile in such a manner as to allow it to be readily extended to a substantial distance from the rear of the automobile, and a controlling device for actuating the said bumper to and from the rear of the said automobile, the controlling'device being'preferably located adjacent the front seat.

Although my invention is illustrated and described as adapted for use with an automobile, it is understoodthat it can be equally well adapted to other types of vehicles; and although it is shown as applied to the rear only of an automobile, it is understood that my invention can be applied to either the front or rear, or to both the front and rear of a vehicle.

With the above mentioned objects in view, the invention comprises the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and shown on the accompanying'drawing, it being understood that various changes'in the form, proportions, and minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims, maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an automobile with the rear bumper shown in the extended position in broken lines, and the control device indicated adjacent the front seat of the automobile,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the rear end of the frame of an automobileshowing the means of mounting and controlling the bumper, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to'the drawing, wherein like charactors of reference designate corresponding parts,

the frame I of an automobile 2 is formed with a cross member 3 on which suitable bearing blocks 4 are mounted.

A bumper 5 is attached by brackets 6 to the ends of two horizontal I-shaped members I which extend between and substantially parallel to the side members 8 of the frame I.

Each member l is positioned between a pair of guide rollers 9 mounted on a cross-member ll) of the frame 1.

' Extending transversely beneath the member I is a shaft ll journaled in the bearing blocks 4 and mounting geared pinions I2 which are positioned directly beneath each of the members I and are adapted to mesh with the straight gears, or racks l3 secured to the lower surfaces of the members I.

Flanged guide rollers I4 are positioned directly above the pinions I2 and are adapted to engage with the upper surfaces of the members 7, each roller I! being mounted on a. short shaft which is journaled in a. bearing block 4 and in a bearing l5 mounted on the side member 8 of the frame i.

A circumfercntially grooved drum I6 is pinned to the shaft H, and an endless cable I1 is wound several turns around the drum l6, passedover guide pulleys I! to another similarly grooved drum is and is wound several turnsthereon. The drum I9 is mounted on the side wall 20 of the body of theautomobile 2 and. adjacent the driver's seat 22. A hand crank 2| axially secured to the drum I9 is adapted to turn the same.

' The turning of the hand crank 2| and the drum i9 causes a corresponding turning of the drum Ii by virtue of the endless cable I I thereon; This causes the shaft II and the pinions (2 to also rotate. The pinions l2 meshing with the racks l3 cause the members I to move longitudinally in a path directed by the guide rollers H and 9, thereby carrying the bumper 5, attached thereon, rearwardly away from the cross-member "of the frame I.

The rearwardly extended members I together with the bumper 5 forms a supporting frame for luggage or the like as clearly shown with broken lines in Fig. 1. a

when the automobile I is parked, the bumper 5 can be extended as in Fig. 1, to prevent the parking of another vehicle against the rear of the automobile l. Locking the automobile l' prevents access to the control crank 2i by another person.

To remove the automobile I from its parking space, the bumper 5 is retracted to its normal position adjacent the rear of the automobile I 55 as shown with solid lines in Fig. 1, by turning the crank 2| in a reverse direction.

If other vehicles have been parked in contact with the front and rear bumpers of the automobile I, the retraction of the bumper I will allow 'sufllcient space in which to maneuver the automobile I from between the other vehicles. This eliminates the inconvenience of waiting until one of the other vehicles has been moved to providesufllcient space to drive awaya Having described my invention,.what I claim is' 1.-In combination with a vehicle, a bumper,"

, slidably mounted on the frame of the said vehicle,

vehicle, an endless cable extending over the two drums, and a crank secured to one of the drums guide said supporting m mbers in a directiggsufistahtiallyiparallel to the sides of the said frame, a shaft adjacent and substantially normal to the said members, a plurality of pinion gears pinned to the said shaft adapted to mesh with straight gears formed on the said members,.a

pinned to the said shaft, and a flexible cable mounted 'on the said drumand'extending around acrankoperated drum mounted within the body of the said'vehicle.

ELISE b. WALTER. 

